Hand operated pocket size emergency signalling device



April 18, 1967 L. R. CRUMP 3,315,166

HAND OPERATED POCKET SIZE EMERGENCY SIGNALLING DEVICE Filed Aug. 18, 1-964 INVENTOR. LLOYD R. CRUMP 1. d/MW ATTORNEY United States Patent Oilfice 3,315,166 Patented Apr. 18, 1967 3,315,166 HAND OPERATED POCKET SIZE EMERGENCY SIGNALLING DEVICE Lloyd R. Crump, 12108 Atherton Drive, Silver Spring, Md. 20902 Filed Aug. 18, 1964, Ser. N0. 390,488 1 Claim. (Cl. 325-105) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention relates to signalling and in particular is concerned with using a mechanical transducer which is manually operative under emergency conditions to produce a coded signal. Battery-powered signalling devices are in common use and it is well known that they have deficiencies, especially that resulting from deterioration of the batteries because of their chemical ingredients. Manual generators or transducers have been used for operating light sources such as flash lights for emergency operations and these have found acceptable use. The prior art emergency signalling devices, to my knowledge, have not been proven entirely satisfactory because of in sufficient power development or production of inadequate or ineffective signals for emergency use. Patent Number 2,535,041 to I. C. Clark discloses a manually operative power source for emergency flash light signalling and Patent Number 2,928,052 to I. F. Wood discloses a chemical transducer for operating an oscillator for signalling. This particular prior art is believed to be representative of the known emergency signalling device and the present invention is considered an improvement thereover.

It is an object of this invention to provide a small portable or pocket size signalling device which insures that power for effecting a signalling operation will be available when an emergency arises.

Another object is to provide for the production and radiation of a definite electrical identification signal which is readily picked up by receiving equipment.

Another object is to provide a mechanical coder element for effecting the electrical identification signals by the manual operation of the transducer.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a view diagrammatically showing elements of a mechanical transducer and oscillator with a rectifier and coder element shown schematically.

FIGURE 2 is a schematic or wiring diagram of an oscillator circuit showing the mechanical transducer and the coder element located in the circuit.

FIGURE 3 is a representation of a housing in which the mechanical transducer and oscillator assembly of the invention is enclosed.

In FIGURE 1 the mechanical transducer is indicated at and contains a generator, shafting, gearing, etc. which are operative to develop alternating current through manipulation of an actuator indicated at 11. Patent 2,424,700 to Marl McMath discloses details of shafting, gearing, etc. of a hand generator. The shafting is represented by the broken line 12 which is rotated by actuator 11 to rotate a generator or magnetic rotor G. The shaft in turn connects the generator with suitable reduction gearing 13 and alternating current developed by the generator G is rectified by diode 14 and transmitted by lines 15-15 to operate the oscillator 16.

A signal coder device is indicated at 17 and is in the form of a disk which is mounted for rotation by the shafting 12, for example, on an extension identified at 12 at desired speed in accordance with the particular reduction gearing 13. The disk is constructed to have a central collector 18 and peripheral segments 19 which are in circuit with the collector by wire connections 20. The segments 19 are arranged to transmit desired coded signals such, for example, as May Day, "which is an international distress signal, and for this particular coded signal, three large segments and two small segments are provided as shown.

The oscillator circuit 16, shown in FIGURE 2, utilizes a transistor 21, having a base 22, emitter 23 and a collector 24. The particular oscillator shown is only exemplary of oscillator circuits which may be used in carrying out the invention and such circuits will be adapted to the particular transistor used or available and the mechanical transducer 10 will be selected to develop the voltage suitable for the transistor. The generator G and the diode rectifier 14 may be formed as a separate unit as indicated by the broken line rectangle in FIGURE 2 or the diode rectifier may be part of the oscillator circuit. The direct current is transmitted by line 25, which has an RF choke or impedance coil 26 therein, to the collector 24 of the transistor by line 27. The direct current is also transmitted to the base 22 of the transistor by line 28 but this current path to the transistor is interrupted by the coder 17. For this purpose a first contactor 30 is connected to line 28 for supplying current to the segments 19 and a second contactor 31 abuts the collector 18 to transmit the coded signals from the segments 19 to the base 22 of the transistor 21, through line 32 having a resistor 33 therein. The amplifying current through line 27 is thus modulated by the coded sig nals and transmitted by emitter 23, lines 34 and 35 to the tank circuit which includes tank coil 36. Condensers 37, 38 and 39 are provided for stabilizing the circuits while condenser 40 provides a bypass for the generator. A second coil -41 is coupled to the tank coil 36 and has one end connected to ground and the other end connected to radiating means or antenna 42.

The housing 40 of FIGURE 3 will be constructed of leakproof and tropicallized material and have small dimensions to be capable of being embraced in the hand of a user. The upper section 41 may contain the transducer, etc. elements describedin connection with FIG- URE 1 and the exterior actuator 11 and associated linkage will be sealed to provide leakproof characteristics. The lower section 43 will contain the circuitry elements described in connection with FIGURE 2.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claim, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

I claim:

A signalling device comprising a pocket size housing enclosing in combination,

(a) an oscillator circuit including a transistor and a resonant tank circuit which is electrically connected to the base of the transistor,

(b) a rotary shaft mounting an alternating current generator having a diode rectifier connected in series circuit therewith to provide a direct current out- P (c) a signal device comprising a coder disk mounted for rotation with said shaft and having a plurality of spaced input contacts interconnected with a common output contact,

(d) a first connector from the output side of said rectifier for supplying current to the collector of the transistor,

(e) a second connector from the output side of said rectifier having a contactor arm which is operable to supply current to the input contacts of the coder disk in sequence during rotation of said shaft,

(f) a third connector including a contactor arm which is operable to pick up signals from the output contact of the coder disk and transmit the signals to the base of said transistor,

(g) an actuator pivotally mounted on an exterior wall of the housing and connections between said actuator and the rotary shaft and (h) said actuator and said last mentioned connections permitting an operator to effect rotation of the shaft by grasping the housing in one hand and applying thumb pressure of the one hand on the actuator.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS McDonald 325166 X Mallinson 325185 X Hathaway 325-185 X Varley 325185 X Wood 325169 X 

